Works of Art in the House of Lords

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Which persons or organisations the Parliamentary Works Directorate is required to consult prior to making a decision to relocate a work of art that is within its care.

Lord Boston of Faversham: In the House of Lords, the Advisory Panel on Works of Art would be consulted before a major work of art is relocated. For minor works, the people occupying the rooms affected would be consulted.

Beta Interferon

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they currently support any research into the effectiveness of beta interferon in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government are currently supporting a number of research studies on multiple sclerosis through the Medical Research Council and the Department of Health. These studies include a programme of reviews of research on multiple sclerosis, one of which, on the effectiveness and costs of disease-modifying drugs, including beta interferon, in multiple sclerosis, has just been published.
	Details of reviews can be found on the NHS Research & Development Health Technology Assessment programme website: www.hta.nhsweb.nhs.uk.

Beta Interferon

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In assessing beta interferon in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, whether they believe the drug's effectiveness varies between relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive and primary progressive forms of the illness.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to conduct an authoritative appraisal of the evidence on beta interferon as part of its first appraisal programme.

Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 22 May (WA 59) in relation to the advertisement for the post of the Lieutenant Governor of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, how many persons were shortlisted for this position; and what were their occupations and gender.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Eight persons (all male) were shortlisted for the position of Lieutenant Governor of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Five were servicemen and three were diplomats.

Prison and Probation Services

Baroness Gale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to improve arrangements for the strategic management of the Prison and Probation Services and for future complaints arrangements for the two services.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: We think it right to recognise the substantial and growing overlap in the work that both services perform as we pursue our drive to reduce reoffending through proven and well-targeted programmes and resettlement planning as set out in the Correctional Policy Framework which we published last year.
	We have established a new Strategy Board for Correction Services, chaired by my right honourable friend the Minister of State at the Home Office, Mr Boateng, to advise my right honourable friend the Home Secretary on giving strategic direction for the Prison and Probation Services. This replaces the Prison Service Strategy Board. We will make formal amendments to the Framework Document of the Prison Service in due course.
	We have also decided to extend the Prisons Ombudsman's remit to cover probation services. This joint ombudsman will be created initially on an administrative basis, as with the Prisons Ombudsman, but we plan to legislate as soon as practicable. We are giving careful consideration to what the ombudsman's terms of reference should be. We shall make a further statement to Parliament in due course.

Clandestine Immigrants: Carrier's Liability

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the enforcement of payment of civil penalties by court proceedings under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 is by way of an appeal against the decisions of immigration officials

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Civil penalties under Section 32 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are enforced in court proceedings brought by the Secretary of State. Proceedings may only be brought where the prescribed period for payment has expired and any objections to payment have been considered by the Secretary of State under Section 35(8). The rules governing such envorcement proceedings will be the ordinary Rules of Court applicable to debt actions brought by the Crown. It will be open to the carrier to raise one of the statutory defences available under Section 34 of the Act.
	Similarly, where a transporter is detained under Section 36 of the Act as a security for payment of the penalty, the sale of the transporter under Section 37 is subject to the procedure laid down in Schedule 1 to the Act and Statutory Instrument 2000/685. In particular, the sale requires the leave of the court, and before such leave can be granted the Secretary of State must prove that the penalty is due, that the penalty or any connected expenses have not been paid, and that the transporter is liable to sale. Notice of the proposed sale must be given to all interested persons, who may then become parties to the proceedings. Again, it will be open to the carrier to dispute liability by raising a defence under Section 34 of the Act. And the same defences will be available when the Secretary of State seeks to enforce any other security given in place of the transporter under Section 36(2)(b).

Clandestine Immigrants: Carrier's Liability

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 16 June (WA 217), whether they will now say what was the rank of the civil servant who signed the rejection of appeal reference CPCAU/070.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Further to the reply I gave to the noble Earl on 16 June (Official Report, col. WA 217), when a notice of objection against a penalty imposed under the civil penalty provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 is rejected, the final decision is taken by an Inspector of Immigration, who signs the letter notifying that decision. It was an Inspector of Immigration who signed the letter in case reference CPCAU/070.

Hammersmith Bridge

Lord Brabazon of Tara: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether every effort is being made to reopen Hammersmith Bridge to traffic as soon as possible following the bomb explosion; and when they expect it to reopen.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: In the explosion on Thursday 1 June, Hammersmith Bridge sustained severe local damage where the device was planted under the road near the Barnes abutment, on the east side. The bomb was placed at the end of a crossbeam which directly supports the carriageway. The damage was such that the weight of any traffic on the road above could not be safely carried and the bridge must remain closed to vehicles.
	The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, the highway authority for the bridge, wants to reopen the bridge fully as soon as is practicable. The western footway has been opened to pedestrians and it is hoped to open the bridge to cycle and motorcycle traffic shortly. The council has reviewed a range of interim measures, including upgrading the temporary propping below the bridge, and providing temporary Bailey bridges spanning across the damaged area. The council has appointed a contractor to carry out the necessary repair work; the contractor has since started work.
	Hammersmith and Fulham has established a preliminary work programme which aims to reopen the bridge to traffic by the end of August 2000.

Economic Cycle Assessment

Lord Shore of Stepney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 23 May (WA 78), what are the criteria or definitions that the British Government use in defining an economic cycle; whether the British definition of an economic cycle is the same as that used by the European Commission in the context of economic and monetary union; when the economic cycle that ended in the United Kingdom in the second half of 1996 began; and what the budget surpluses and deficits were as a percentage of gross domestic product in those years.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Treasury's methodology for assessing on-trend points is set out in the publication Fiscal policy: public finances and the cycle (HM Treasury, March 1999). The cycle which ended in the first half of 1997 is estimated to have begun in the second quarter of 1986. The figures for the current budget and net borrowing as a percentage of GDP over the period are shown in Table C 22 of the March 2000 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

Chinook Helicopter Accident: Response to Sheriff's Letter

Lord Chalfont: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Ministry of Defence replied to the letter from Sheriff Sir Stephen Young of 17 February 1996 to all parties in the Chinook Fatal Accident Inquiry; and, if so, in what terms.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: I will write to my noble friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Military Vessel Wrecks in UK Waters

Lord Onslow of Woking: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many wrecks of military vessels that might qualify for designation under the provisions of the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 are known to lie in United Kingdom waters.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There is no centrally held list of all wrecked military vessels that lie in UK territorial water.

National Army Museum: Council Meeting

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When was the last time the council of the National Army Museum met for a full meeting.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Council of the National Army Museum last met for a full meeting on 21 June 2000.

Courts Martial

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether one of their aims in introducing the Bill which became the Armed Forces Discipline Act 2000 was to provide that the timing of any election for court martial ensured that the court martial was a court of first instance and not an appeal from summary jurisdiction.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Armed Forces Discipline Act 2000 introduces a right of appeal from summary disciplinary proceedings. It also changes the point at which accused facing summary disciplinary proceedings in the Army and Royal Air Force may elect instead to be tried by court martial. When the changes come into effect, the accused will be offered the opportunity to elect trial by court martial before the commanding officer hears the evidence on the charge rather than, as now, only after the commanding officer has found the charge proved. These new procedures will be similar to those already operated by the Royal Navy.
	The main purpose of altering the point of election for court martial is to remove any possibility of confusion between this procedure, which at present in the Army and Royal Air Force may be considered to have certain of the characteristics of an appeal, and the new right of appeal.
	A court martial is a court of first instance under both the current and the new dispensations.

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thornton on 8 June (WA 173), what type and make of cars are used by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: The FCO operates a range of saloon, four-wheel drive and general purpose cars for all our overseas posts in every corner of the world. The makes and numbers are as follows:
	
		Overseas Fleet
		
			 Number Make 
			 9 Bajaj 
			 2 Cadillac 
			 10 Chevrolet 
			 10 Chrysler 
			 1 Citroen 
			 1 Daewoo 
			 1 Daihatsu 
			 3 Daimler 
			 4 Dodge 
			 7 Fiat 
			 62 Ford 
			 40 Ford 
			 1 Gazelle 
			 2 GMC 
			 3 Hino 
			 5 Hyundai 
			 7 Isuzu 
			 67 Jaguar 
			 1 Kartal 
			 3 Lada 
			 404 Land Rover 
			 1 Mahindra 
			 13 Maruti 
			 11 Mazda 
			 8 Mercedes 
			 32 Mitsubishi 
			 17 Nissan 
			 5 Opel 
			 1 Pajero 
			 41 Peugeot 
			 1 Plymouth 
			 11 Renault 
			 11 Rolls Royce 
			 109 Rover 
			 5 Subaru 
			 3 Suzuki 
			 4 Tata 
			 91 Toyota 
			 14 Volvo 
			 17 VW 
			 1,038 Total 
		
	
	
		Home Fleet
		
			 Number Make 
			 2 Ford 
			 3 Rover 
			 8 Vauxhall 
			 13 Total 
			 1,051 Grand Total

Cabinet Committees

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the membership of each Cabinet Committee

Baroness Jay of Paddington: My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has placed a copy of the current list of Cabinet Committees, their membership and terms of reference in the Libraries of the House. Details will also be updated on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk).

Planning Appeals

Baroness Gale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to streamline the procedures governing planning appeals.

Lord Whitty: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has today laid before Parliament four statutory instruments to improve the handling of planning appeals under each of the three main procedures, written representations, hearings and inquiries. These are: the Town and Country Planning (Appeals) (Written Representations Procedure) Regulations 2000; and Town and Country Planning (Hearings Procedure) (England) Rules 2000, the Town and Country Planning (Inquiries Procedure) (England) Rules 2000 and the Town and Country Planning Appeals (Determination by Inspectors) (Inquiries Procedure) (England) Rules 2000. My right honourable friend has also laid before Parliament a related amendment to the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995.
	A departmental circular (DETR 5/2000), Planning Appeals: Procedures (including inquiries into called-in planning applications), is being issued today to accompany the new statutory instruments and copies have been placed in the House Libraries. This circular (which replaces Circular DOE 15/96) explains the new procedures governing written representations, hearings and inquiries (including inquiries into called-in planning applications). The changes implement the conclusions of a consultation exercise announced by my right honourable friend the then Minister for Planning on 31 March last year.
	The new arrangements, due to come into operation on 1 August 2000, are a key component of our "Modernising Planning" programme. We are determined to improve the service offered to business householders and other users of the appeal system. The changes being introduced will improve the speed and efficiency of the system without impairing the quality, fairness or openness of the process or people's ability to participate.
	We have already set tough targets for the Planning Inspectorate to turn round appeals more quickly and it has made a good deal of progress in improving its own performance. However, improving service to the benefit of all concerned is not just the responsibility of the Planning Inspectorate. All parties to the appeals process have a responsibility to meet the deadlines set and to co-operate with the inspectorate in agreeing dates offered for hearings and inquiries. In future, representations received after due dates will normally be disregarded. We shall be carefully monitoring the impact of the changes and will review their effectiveness after about a year to help us decide whether any further action is needed.

Farm Attractions

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What method they will use to estimate the impact of the revised Standards of Modern Zoo Practice (published in March) on the operation of farm attractions; and when they expect such a study to be completed.

Lord Whitty: I refer the noble Baroness to the Answer I gave her on 8 May, (Official Report, col. WA 209). It is too early to assess the impact of the Revised Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice, which came into effect on 3 April 2000.

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 8 June (WA 173), what type and make of cars are used by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Lord Whitty: My department uses a total of 612 cars. A breakdown of the type and make of cars has been placed in the Library of the House.

Building Industry: Sustainable Construction

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list their various initiatives and programmes to develop more sustainable construction processes in the building industry; and, under these programmes, what organisations and institutions have been grant aided, how many applications have been received for research funding, how many have been awarded Government funding and what was the amount of each grant.

Lord Whitty: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Beverley Hughes, launched the government strategy for more sustainable construction, entitled Building a better quality of life, in April 2000. This strategy aims to improve the economic, social and environmental performance of construction and is supported by a wide range of government and industry initiatives and programmes.
	The key initiatives involved in promoting more sustainable construction which are supported by Government funding include:
	
		
			  DETR funding support in 2000/01--£k 
			 Construction Best Practice Programme 2,000 
			 Movement for Innovation 800 
			 Construction Research and Innovation Strategy  Panel 239 
			 Housing Forum 100 
			 Sustainable Construction Focus Group 20 
		
	
	My department also funds a programme of construction-related research and innovation, much of it collaboratively funded under the Partners in Innovation (PiI) scheme. In 1999, 184 applications were received for PiI funding in the area of sustainable construction, of which 74 were successful. The information requested about all the projects currently being supported under the Sustainable Construction Business Plan is contained in the Annex to this answer.
	
		Annex 
		
			 Research Contractor Title of Project DETR % contribution Planned Completion date 2001-01 contribution 
			 ABS Consulting Realising quality efficient buildings 50.0% 30-Jun-00 £12,545 
			 ABS Consulting Continuous commissioning for enhanced value 47.9% 31-Aug-01 £36,292 
			 AHS Emstar Use of municipal waste bottom ash 12.0% 31-Dec-00 
			 Andrew Wright Associates Develop and disseminate guidelines for integrated planning of urban areas 50.0% 28-Jul-00 £15,300 
			 Bovis Europe Improving waste management in construction 50.0% 31-Aug-00 £23,672 
			 Brampton Housing Sustainable housing for a local community 50.0% 30-Sep-00 £27,098 
			 BRE collaborative An environmental guide--estate management 50.0% 30-Jun-00 £12,500 
			 BRE collaborative Development of a simple property portfolio environmental assessment tool 50.0% 31-Jul-00 £30,000 
			 BRE collaborative Improving the environmental performance of the forestry, sawmilling and panel products industries 50.0% 31-Aug-00 £17,500 
			 BRE collaborative Prototype facade unit for integrating natural ventilation, daylight, solar protection and photovoltaics 44.0% 31-Mar-01 £53,817 
			 BRE collaborative Practical performance and economic evaluation of chilled ceilings and beams 50.0% 31-Mar-01 £54,728 
			 BRE collaborative Innovation and best practice in flexible and modular building solutions 50.0% 31-Mar-01 £17,000 
			 BRE collaborative Life cycle environmental impacts--bringing the results to the marketplace 44.2% 31-Mar-01 £35,478 
			 BRE collaborative No Blame Post Occupancy Evaluation For The Defects Liability Period 50.0% 31-Mar-02 £25,250 
			 BRE collaborative Benchmarking sustainable construction best practice--a matrix approach 50.0% 31-Mar-02 £58,893 
			 BRE collaborative Sustainability--Getting the small and medium size enterprise contractors' questions answered 41.5% 31-Mar-02 £48,255 
			 BRE collaborative Sustainable Occupation and Use--Recognising the Real Drivers of Social and Economic dimensions in the life of buildings 39.5% 30-Jun-02 £26,200 
			 BRE collaborative Promoting solar shading and intelligent facades 50.0% 31-Dec-02 £24,000 
			 BRE framework Provide strategies to mitigate pollution within non-domestic buildings in urban areas 100.0% 30-Jun-00 £25,000 
			 BRE framework Domestic building energy performance 100.0% 31-Jan-01 £201,672 
			 BRE framework Brownfield sites--building on fill 100.0% 31-Jan-01 £30,100 
			 BRE framework CEN standards of cooling and energy 100.0% 31-Mar-01 £20,188 
			 BRE framework Improved lighting guidance 100.0% 31-Mar-01 £99,642 
			 BRE framework Site layout planning to improve solar access, passive cooling and micro-climate 100.0% 31-Mar-01 £79,450 
			 BRE framework Energy efficiency of non-domestic buildings 100.0% 31-Mar-01 £200,752 
			 BRE framework Promotion of DETR's sustainability objectives: materials and products 100.0% 31-Mar-01 £85,895 
			 BRE framework Review of strategy and priorities for energy-related issues 100.0% 31-Mar-01 £48,118 
			 BRE framework Sustainable construction--developing an industry agenda: Movement for Innovation Key Performance Indicator matrix 100.0% 31-Mar-01 £200,109 
			 BRE framework Environmental assessment and management tool for the NHS Estate 100.0% 16-Jun-01 £31,550 
			 BRE framework Sustainable strategies and design--a reference file 100.0% 30-Sep-01 £50,915 
			 BRE framework Sustainability of small and medium enterprises and small and occasional clients 100.0% 31-Mar-02 £42,454 
			 BRE framework Detailed Energy Benchmarking For Schools 100.0% 31-May-02 £29,484 
			 BRE framework Green aggregates 100.0% 31-May-02 £46,500 
			 BRE framework Maximising the sustainability of refurbishment 100.0% 30-Jun-02 £58,249 
			 BRE framework A sustainability indicator for utilities 100.0% 31-Jul-02 £41,143 
			 BRE framework Whole building commissioning--a Code of Practice 100.0% 31-May-03 £40,345 
			 BSRIA Making natural ventilation work 50.0% 30-Jun-00 
			 BSRIA Heating, ventilation and air conditioning thermal storage: practical application and performance issues 50.0% 30-Sep-00 £19,950 
			 BSRIA Quality environments for public transport buildings 50.0% 30-Sep-00 £20,600 
			 BSRIA Optimising minimum fresh air 50.0% 31-Mar-01 £39,980 
			 BSRIA Effectiveness of building control systems 50.0% 31-Jan-02 £22,600 
			 Buro Happold Constructing a prototype cardboard building 44.0% 31-Mar-01 £59,000 
			 Cambridge Architectural Research Evaluating sustainable investment in ageing building stock 50.0% 31-May-01 £44,200 
			 CIBSE Benchmarking lighting design software 50.0% 30-Sep-00 £14,000 
			 CIBSE Design for adaptable building services 50.0% 31-Oct-00 £15,603 
			 CIBSE CIBSE Guide B: low energy ventilation and cooling guidance 41.8% 31-Mar-01 £24,675 
			 CIBSE Journal Post-occupancy reviews of building engineering (PROBE 3) 49.9% 20-Aug-01 £60,000 
			 CIRIA Integrated strategies for the investigation and risk assessment of potentially contaminated sites 50.0% 30-Jun-00 £10,000 
			 CIRIA Contaminated land: financial control of risk 50.0% 31-Jul-00 £13,440 
			 CIRIA Sustainable construction--indicators and targets 50.0% 31-Dec-00 £47,250 
			 CIRIA Effective mechanisms for client control of project environmental performance 45.0% 31-Oct-01 £31,564 
			 CIRIA Waste minimisation and recycling--demonstration projects 50.0% 31-Jan-02 £33,500 
			 CIRIA Guidance on the costing of environmental pollution from building 42.0% 28-Feb-02 £47,172 
			 CIRIA Sustainable water management--planning for new developments 35.0% 31-Dec-02 £20,000 
			 Construction Industry Board The business benefits of considerate site management 35.8% 30-Nov-00 £17,750 
			 Damond Lock Grabowski + Partners Buildings: a new life 42.0% 31-Jul-02 £16,450 
			 ECD Energy and Environment Greening the national engineering specification 28.7% 30-Nov-01 £41,080 
			 Gaia Research Sustainable Construction Continuing Professional Development 49.6% 30-Nov-02 £34,100 
			 Institute of Building Control Supporting Sustainable Construction--Developing Effective Promotion for use of Recycled Construction Materials 45.0% 28-Feb-01 £16,200 
			 Laing Sustainable construction--demonstration project 50.0% 30-Apr-01 £173,800 
			 SBS Business Solutions The office productivity network 37.0% 31-Dec-00 £21,000 
			 Steel Construction Institute Economic assessment of recycled building using a primary steel frame 50.0% 30-Jun-00 £14,000 
			 SPONGE A network for young professionals in sustainable development 50.0% 31-Mar-02 £36,000 
			 Tarmac Recycling and upgrading utility arisings and quarry wastes 30.8% 31-Mar-01 
			 The Building Conservation Centre Trust The creation of a Heritage Information Exchange 13.0% 31-Mar-03 £150,000 
			 Transport Research Laboratory Waste management and recycling in transport infrastructure renewal works 28.9% 30-Nov-01 £25,000 
			 TRL Reducing the extraction and use of quarry products for construction 50.0% 31-Jan-02 £9,000 
			 TTL Re-engineering the Forest--Wood Supply Chain 50.0% 30-Jun-02 £30,925 
			 University of Dundee Resolving application issues with the use of recycled aggregate 44.4% 31-Oct-00 £15,942 
			 University of Dundee Value-added recycling of incinerator ashes 24.0% 31-Mar-01 £19,250 
			 Nottingham Trent University Demonstration project to increase the use of recycled resources in construction 14.7% 31-May-02 £7,350 
			 Wren & Bell Sustainable continuous refurbishment assessment 50.0% 31-Jan-01 £16,260 
			 Wren & Bell Lower London Road sustainable housing project 48.4% 28-Feb-01 £8,850 
			 WSP Environmental Application of Environmental Management Systems to design processes 50.0% 01-Jun-02 £30,250 
			
			Total £3,056,835